The Monsters of Templeton

Willie Cooper's return home reveals family secrets and a prehistoric monster. The Monsters of Templeton intertwines personal and communal histories in a captivating narrative.

In The Monsters of Templeton, Willie Cooper returns to her ancestral home in Templeton, New York, after a tumultuous affair with her married archaeology professor. This homecoming coincides with the shocking discovery of a prehistoric monster in Lake Glimmerglass, igniting a media frenzy that disrupts the tranquil life of the town her ancestors founded. As the spotlight shines on the lake, Willie grapples with her own personal turmoil and the weight of family secrets that have long been buried.

As Willie delves deeper into her family's history, she uncovers unsettling truths about her long-lost father's identity. The intertwining of her personal discoveries with the town's strange happenings leads her to confront the ghosts of the past. The narrative elegantly weaves together themes of identity, legacy, and the complexities of familial relationships, all set against the backdrop of a town grappling with its own mythology.

The Monsters of Templeton is a captivating exploration of how the past shapes the present. Through Willie's journey, Lauren Groff masterfully reveals the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of a seemingly idyllic setting. This extraordinary novel invites readers to reflect on the monsters we all carry within, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read.